Healing the Grieving Heart

Opened in 2002, The Tristesse Grief Center, Inc is a non-profit organization in Tulsa, Oklahoma that provides individual and group counseling, grief education and support, and specialized programs to adults, children and families who are mourning the death of a loved one.

Staffed by professionals, The Tristesse Grief Center uses traditional counseling as well as grief education and support groups to develop coping skills and encourage healthy expressions of grief. Expressive art activities such as quilt making, painting, photography, gardening and journaling are used to facilitate the journey toward healing.

The Tristesse Grief Center is named for Tristesse “Tess” Aimee Gonsalves, who died at age 14 from cancer. Tess taught all who knew her how to celebrate life and face death with courage. The word “Tristesse” means sadness in French, yet it is the name of a child who devoted her life to living fully and comforting those who loved her.

It was Tess’ wish that a place be created where bereaved families could come to share feelings, celebrate the lives of their loved ones, and realize they are not alone in their grief.